Marlion Pickett [merged]

[one-eyed]

Hardwick wouldn't confirm if mid-season recruit Marlion Pickett would make his debut after being named in the 26.

"Every week he plays he gets match-fit. Ability-wise, we think he's capable of playing AFL football, there's no doubt about that, that's why we brought him to our football club.

"It's just a matter of trying to find the right game and the right intensity for him to play at. He's probably a step closer this week, we looked at him at half-back (VFL), we liked what we saw. Whether we through him in the deep end this week, we're not too sure."

Source: AFL website

[one-eyed]

BARRETT: Shades of Dermie in Tiger rookie's bid for finals debut

AFL.com.au
Damian Barrett
Sep 2, 2019

MARLION Pickett already owns one of the best storylines of the 2019 season.

Twenty-seven years old. Father of four. Jailed in his late teenage years. Given a place on an AFL club list in the mid-season draft.

Now, with a solid month of VFL football into his system, Pickett has challenged Richmond coach Damien Hardwick to make the most daring of team selection decisions going into the finals.

Just as Allan Jeans provided Dermott Brereton with a big-time debut in a final in 1982, Hardwick has reason to ponder doing the same with Pickett.

Pickett went close to senior selection in the final two rounds of the season, being named in extended squads, and was impressive again in the VFL on Saturday, kicking two goals and accumulating 21 disposals at Punt Road against Essendon.

The Tigers seem very settled, having won their past nine matches, so a curveball selection remains a long shot.

The form of Shai Bolton in the past four matches has been OK, but he managed just seven disposals and one tackle in the final match of the home-and-away season against Brisbane.

He tallied 11 disposals in each of his previous three matches. If he is to play in Saturday night's qualifying final, he knows he needs to lift.

When drafted by the Tigers in late May, Pickett was thought to be no chance of AFL selection in 2019, as he arrived at the club with a badly damaged finger.

While recovering from that injury, he worked closely with Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt in the club's rehabilitation group, and has quickly earned the respect of everyone at Richmond.

Marlion Pickett fires off a handball at Tigers training in August.

A two-time best-and-fairest winner at South Fremantle, the Tigers felt Pickett would be best suited across half-back and in on-ball roles, but he can clearly play forward too.

On a sunny early September day in 1982 at the MCG against North Melbourne, Dermott Brereton, wearing No.47, managed five goals in his first game, the first of those five coming after a pass from Leigh Matthews in the second quarter.

Dermott Brereton, pictured in 1989, became a finals great after making his debut in September 1982.

Pickett might just have done enough to follow Brereton into a VFL/AFL debut in a final – against Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

That would take some beating for story of the year.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-09-01/barrett-shades-of-dermie-in-tiger-rookies-bid-for-finals-debut

[one-eyed]

'He's going to be an incredible player', but will Dimma pick him?

Roger Vaughan
AAP
Sep 3, 2019

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick is reticent to give mid-season recruit Marlion Pickett a shock AFL debut in the Tigers' qualifying final against Brisbane.

Pickett took an outstanding mark in Saturday's VFL final win over Essendon and there has been speculation about whether the Tigers would promote him in September.

Hardwick said it is more likely that Pickett will play in the AFL next season.

The Tigers recruited the 27-year-old from WA in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

"You sort of, generally love the side you have now and there are a few pieces you can look at," Hardwick told Fox Footy.

"Marlion's one of those guys you love the look of and you think 'he'd be able to add something to us', but you're a little bit unsure.

"After another pre-season, he's going to be an incredible player for us. He certainly has a lot of upside."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-09-02/hes-going-to-be-an-incredible-player-but-will-dimma-pick-him

[one-eyed]

MARLION PICKETT

Has a one-year deal in front of him with the Tigers on set terms as a rookie. Has moved his family over in the past fortnight and will stay in Melbourne over summer. Tigers couldn’t be more impressed with his attitude and professionalism.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/trades-unplugged-superfooty-trade-experts-look-at-where-the-big-names-will-be-playing-next-season/news-story/05d5f3999bdd0c8fb69882704c019905

[one-eyed]

Another tick for our recruiters.




https://www.aflphotos.com.au/galleries/results/?q=collection:VFL%202019%20Grand%20Final%20-%20Richmond%20v%20Williamstown&image_id=717244

[one-eyed]

By Jay Clark
Herald-Sun

Premiership Tiger Shaun Grigg has backed his midseason replacement Marlion Pickett to deliver on the big stage, saying the electric utility is “built for finals”.

Pickett can become the first player in 67 years to make his AFL debut in a Grand Final after a sizzling best-on-ground performance in the VFL premiership decider on Sunday.

The Tigers are weighing up the huge call whether to pick him, Jack Ross or Sydney Stack to replace injured hard nut Jack Graham (dislocated shoulder) against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday at the MCG.

Grigg made the selfless decision to retire midseason, opening up a spot for the Tigers to draft the 27-year-old WAFL star despite an 11th-hour finger injury.

Grigg, 31, said he was thrilled the game breaker was in the selection frame.

“It does a bring smile to my face because I couldn’t help the team on the field this year, so I just wanted to do anything I could to help the club get better,” Grigg said.

“And if he does get in, you know he is a big-game player.

“We have seen what he did on the weekend and he’s built for finals.

“He is pretty contested, he is skillful and if he does play, I think he will have a couple of pretty special moments.

“For him to be even talked about as a selection option shows it is the right call (to retire).”

Pickett gathered 20 disposals, nine tackles and slotted one goal in the VFL premiership win over Williamstown on Sunday to bolster his selection chances.

It comes only three weeks after the South Fremantle product reeled in a breathtaking high mark running back with the flight in the VFL elimination final win over Essendon.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/live-rolling-footy-news-from-around-australia-for-tuesday-24-september-2019/live-coverage/30b1dd2e3765b6a49e37d5b1219a333c

[one-eyed]

Richmond midfielder Marlion Pickett will make his AFL debut for the Tigers in Saturday's 2019 AFL Grand Final.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2019-09-26/pickett-picked-for-grand-final-debut

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

This is unbelievable!

Holy moly!

[mat073]

Who's going to play Marlion in the movie??

This is unbelievable.

[Damo]

Love it

Gutsy decision and it will pay off

[Rampsation]

Reeks of a desperate move. Hope it comes off.

[TigerLand]

Reeks of a desperate move. Hope it comes off.

Desperate? We are favourites I don't think desperate is the right word.

Ity's risky and maybe reckless. But when you think of alternatives, I think the pros and cons this selection has the most upside.

[eliminator]

Really hope it pays off. Wishing him the very best luck.

[julzqld]

Who's going to play Marlion in the movie??

This is unbelievable.

[mat073]

Reeks of a desperate move. Hope it comes off.

The alternatives are an 18 year old boy who's played 7 games. ( think he's going to be a beaut though)
KMac - fringe player who's behind Brandon Ellis in the pecking order.

We're only replacing a player who's in our bottom six.